Chapter 26 #2
“Get ahold of yourself, Ali!” Luca approaches carefully. He doesn’t try to take over, and I don’t need him to, but I am relieved to have backup if I need it. I would never hurt Alistair. This creature, though . . . I don’t think it’s him. It’s thirst wearing Alistair’s face.
I gasp as my eyes adjust fully to the dark. “His skin!”
Wispy gray veins decorate his pale skin like cracks. His eyes are sunken in, and the half-moons carved beneath them are vividly purple. I shiver even though I’m actively trying not to freak out.
“Ali, can you hear us?” Luca asks.
Alistair’s eyes flicker from red to blue to red again, before slowly returning to blue. He stops struggling in my grip, sagging suddenly.
“Go,” he begs. “Both of you go.”
“Fuck that,” I say. “Tell us what’s wrong.”
“Thirsty,” he mutters.
“I got that part.” I try to sound teasing, but my voice comes out raspy instead. I’m more unnerved by Alistair’s gauntness than his aggression.
“I can’t keep blood down,” he says.
Luca runs to the fridge and sniffs the bags he finds there. “They smell fine. I can heat one up for you right now.”
“It won’t help.” My skin pebbles. Alistair sounds defeated. Completely hopeless.
“Do you need me to go pick some up for you?” Luca asks. “I’ve got a few packs at the Fang.”
I shake my head as my heart begins to race. This is taking too long. Alistair needs blood, and he needs blood now.
When Alistair opens his mouth to answer Luca, I shove my wrist between his lips.
He’s consumed my blood multiple times and had no problems. We don’t have time to argue about fucking expiration dates. My blood is fresh, and I’m stronger than he is. This is the best solution.
Since I was prepared for the sting of the bite, I’m able to hide any reaction to his fangs piercing my skin. For now, at least.
“For fuck’s sake, baby.” Luca slams the refrigerator door and rushes over to us. “This might be a bad idea. We don’t know what’s going on.”
I roll my eyes. It was a great idea. He would see that if he weren’t panicking. Already, Alistair looks better. The gray spiderweb veins are gone, and his skin is perking up like a plant growing toward the sun.
Moaning low in his throat, Alistair tugs me into his lap, and I let him. I’ll lecture myself about it later, but I need to feel his heartbeat against mine.
“Angel.” He breathes the word against the skin of my wrist, licking the puncture wounds, then kissing my fingers one by one.
I frown. “You need to take more. There’s no way that was enough.”
“I won’t take more from you,” he says, wincing. “Not tonight, at least. You need your strength.”
“And you don’t?” I demand.
Luca unbuttons his lightweight flannel shirt, determination burning in his hazel eyes. “She’s right, Ali. That was scary. If you won’t keep drinking from Celine, drink from me.”
Alistair glances at him, his eyebrows climbing high on his face before his gaze dips to Luca’s muscled, tan throat. “Are you sure?”
“Would I offer if I weren’t?” Luca bites his lip. “Fuck, just do it already.”
Alistair pulls Luca down on the couch and presses him into the leather cushions. Then he climbs on top of him, straddling his waist and dragging his lips up the side of Luca’s neck. I expect him to lunge, snap his fangs, and drive them into Luca’s skin.
But Alistair is back in control now . . .
“Last chance to back out,” he purrs.
“Not a chance. And I want the sexy one.” The words have barely left Luca’s lips when Alistair kisses down his neck and slowly sinks his fangs into the taut skin.
The moan that leaves Luca’s mouth is indecent.
I can’t look away. I don’t even want to blink.
Alistair’s hands tenderly cradle Luca’s jaw before one drops to the waist of his jeans.
“Do you want him to touch you, Luca?” I ask, smiling as his eyes snap open to reveal a hint of horizontally slit pupils.
“Fuck yeah, I do,” he says.
Alistair’s fingers toy with the button. Luca rolls his hips; a sexy grunt escapes his mouth. My breath catches in my throat, but Ali refuses to rush. By the time he finally slips the button loose and draws the zipper down, I’m more impatient than Luca.
I lean against the opposite arm of the couch, watching, transfixed, as Alistair’s fingers dip into Luca’s boxer briefs. He pulls his cock out and gives it a rough stroke, then runs his thumb over Luca’s piercing.
“I think he wants to play with that one like you do the hoop in your lip,” I say.
Luca’s moan is loud in the quiet of the apartment.
Tired of watching, I bend at the waist and swallow him to the hilt, pulling back only to grin at him. “A little something for the friction.”
Luca curses. He’s losing it, and I don’t blame him.
I know exactly what it’s like to be at the mercy of Alistair’s bite. As every single pleasure receptor on your body fires at once. So good you’re terrified he’ll stop and terrified by what you might do if he doesn’t.
Alistair strokes Luca fast and hard, running his thumb over the head of his cock every few strokes. I love the aggressive way they handle each other—knuckles whited out, their Adam’s apples bobbing.
Arousal rolls through me, hot and demanding. Luca buries his fingers in Alistair’s hair, arching his neck against his mouth as he comes with a sexy, delicious groan.
Alistair’s thumb makes one final swipe, spreading cum over the tip of Luca’s cock. “Shower,” he says, slurring the word until he sounds drunk.
I nod, climbing to my feet and steadying myself on the arm of the couch. I didn’t realize Alistair took enough blood to make me woozy. I should be thanking him for his self-control.
When we get to the bathroom, I wipe all expression off my face.
It’s a mess. And that’s a kind way to put it.
Luca seems almost as blissed-out as Alistair, so I guide them to the shower.
Once they’re in, with steam curling around the curtain, I dig around under the sink for cleaning supplies and get to work.
In five minutes, the toilet is sparkling clean, and the sour smell is gone—replaced by the fresh scent of lemon.
My neck prickles. I look over my shoulder to find Luca and Alistair watching me from a gap in the shower curtain. Alistair’s chin rests on Luca’s shoulder. I shiver. I feel their eyes like a physical touch.
“It’s clean, baby,” Luca says.
“Let us touch you.”
I raise one eyebrow as if I’m thinking it over, but I’ve already made my decision.
I was scared tonight. I may not understand what’s between us, and we may not be back to normal yet, but I care about Alistair, and I need to touch him.
Holding eye contact, I strip slowly.
Inch by inch, I peel my shirt over my head and toy with the front clasp of my bra. It drops to the floor. My cotton shorts fall next. Bracing my palms on the lip of the sink, I perch on the edge and spread my legs.
The only things between me and them are steam and a scrap of red lace.